The Advocate: Part 2 of a two-book series

by Jackie Phamotse

In the shadow of a flawless facade, the Coal family’s dynasty teeters on the brink of collapse. Luna Parks’ marriage balances on a powder keg of secrets and lies, and results in the presence of an unwelcome guest on the Coal farm, which is the spark that sets it ablaze. With the Fletchers’ sinister grip tightening on the town of Clanwilliam, the advocate emerges as the last line of defence against the forces of destruction, and Cameron Coal is forced to confront an impossible will love be the salvation or the downfall of the rooibos farm, a legacy forged in blood and sweat? And will Luna’s devotion be enough to bring the family together? With every twist and turn, the stakes get higher, and the truth threatens to rip everyone apart.
Against the backdrop of South Africa’s tumultuous rural landscape, this gripping tale exposes the intricate dance between power, corruption and the human condition. Can the advocate untangle the web of deceit, or will the pursuit of justice and truth be sacrificed at the altar of money and influence?

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2025

About the author

Jackie Phamotse is a writer, businesswoman, social activist and philanthropist.

Her debut novel, BARE I: The Blesser’s Game, was published in 2017 and was awarded the African Icon Literary Award in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2018. Her second book, I Tweet What I Like, was inspired by the late struggle icon Steve Biko’s book, I Write What I Like. Jackie won the 2020 SA Book Awards for Best Fiction for her novel BARE II: The Cradle of The Hockey Club. She was also nominated for a bestselling award by Nielsen BookScan and SAPnet in 2023 for her book Bare IV: Mercy. Google listed Jackie as one of the most searched personalities in South Africa in 2020. She won an award for her Social Activism at the Women of Wonder Awards ceremony in 2020, the same year the Generational Wealth Foundation listed her as one of the most influential educators.

Jackie’s main objective is to create awareness around and find long-term solutions to eradicate social ills. She currently lives in Sandton, South Africa.

Reviews

[Lienkie's Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the way this book started and the middle was so engaging as well! But sadly, the ending felt rushed and just a "neat and tidy" way to end off the story. I have so many questions and there are parts of the story that feel so unresolved. Did I enjoy the duology overall, yes 😁❤️🫖

[Caroline Nyakata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know where to begin, and my review may be a bit of this a bit of that, but one thing for sure is I enjoyed this book. Beautifully written with in-depth history.

The book didn't end how I enticipated it would, in my pretty mind, Cam and Luna were going to live happily ever after. Never saw it coming that in the end she was going to marry the brother.

I wanted to slap Cameron throughout the book, because what to you mean your wife gets arrested and you don't visit her, that the first time you see her is during the trial and gets shocked when she losses a pregnancy you weren't aware of because you didn't read her letters nor answered her calls?

and on the other side, the one who didn't see eye to eye with Luna is the one who becomes her greatest strength and supporter. In the end, it made sense why they got married. He sacrificed everything for her.

Seth? Definitely thought Fletcher would get him behind bars or Cam would, but he had his head in a good place and wanted to do better in the midst of everything that haunted him.

Then there's Miller and Eve, they really showed what happens when you want to make extra money the easy way. You can't dance with the devil and not get burned!

This book was so layered and showed that you really never know someone. The person you perceive as bad may turn out good, and the opposite is also true.

[ReadingWithAngel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book, I couldn’t wait for its release, I wanted to find out how the story ended. I love how the book transitioned, moving from Luna being the main character to Sole. This book gave more perspective on each character than first book did. The end of the book left me with so many questions, it felt rushed , I wanted to find out more about Luna’s train of thought with her second marriage and how she ended things in her first marriage. Overall this was a great book, the storyline was so interesting.

[Letticia Collet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Advocate is the follow up to The Tea Merchant. So there's the Coal family with their farm where they live and produce tea and then there's the Fletcher, their rivals. This rivalry stretches for generations.

From what happened in Book 1 and now to this, Jackie threw me with a curveball making it's way right in my stomach. Secrets from Book 1 is being unveiled, but plot twists heightened.
The corruption, tussle for power and devastation took me on a roller-coaster ride.

The descriptive writing give the story great texture, transporting you right to that place. I felt like there were some repetition of phrases but it is a drop in the ocean.
This book took me on a journey of vocabulary acquisition 🤭

One thing about Jackie's books is that you know it's fiction, but always impelled by true events (land reform); and so research is vital. I commend her.

Jackie Phamotse deserve her flowers. Highly recommend this series as it will keep you on the edge.

"South Africa is a place of many wonders."

"And he know that the land had always been for all who lived on it- animals, the plants, the microorganisms and the humans."